A vast amount of people in the United States require their own form of transportation to maintain their livelihood and continue their daily routine. Driving, however, is a privilege and that privilege can get taken away under certain circumstances. Fortunately, this privilege can also be reinstated if you take the right steps. If your driver’s license has been revoked due to an offense involving multiple DUI charges or a fatality, you will need to attend a formal hearing with the Secretary of State (SOS) to reinstate your license.

What to Expect Prior to the Formal Hearing

To have a successful administrative hearing, there are several steps you must take before the hearing takes place. First, a written request must be mailed in, including a $50 filing fee. Any emailed or faxed requests will not be acknowledged. The request must include various personal information, including the petitioner’s full name, current address, and social security number. These requests are accepted 90 days after the most recent hearing. Once the request and fee are received, the hearing will be scheduled.

The petitioner may now take the time to adequately prepare for the hearing. If the petitioner does not feel entirely prepared, it is recommended that you notify the SOS’s office in writing at least five days before to withdraw your request. This will allow you to forgo the required 90 day wait period in between hearings.

In Illinois, being arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to a range of criminal consequences and administrative penalties. Most first-time DUIs are punishable by fines up to $2,500, community service, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education classes. Second and subsequent DUIs or DUIs involving aggravating circumstances are punished more harshly. Some DUI offenses can even lead to lengthy jail sentences. If you have been charged with drunk driving in Illinois, it is crucial that you work with a skilled DUI defense lawyer.

Possible Defenses Against DUI Charges

If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI, you are facing serious penalties and a permanent criminal record. However, it is important to remember that being charged with DUI is not the same thing as being convicted of DUI. In Illinois, criminal charges including drunk driving charges must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. There are many different defenses that may be used to weaken the prosecution’s case against you, including:

• Lack of probable cause for the traffic stop – Police cannot simply pull someone over for no reason. To initiate a traffic stop, police must have “probable cause.” There must be sufficient evidence to suggest that the driver is committing some type of crime or traffic violation. Speeding, running a red light, drifting between lanes, and erratic driving may all constitute probable cause. However, if police cannot prove that they had a good reason to pull you over, any evidence gathered during the police stop may be inadmissible in your DUI proceedings.
• Problems with field sobriety tests - Horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, walk and turn tests, and other field sobriety tests are often used by police to evaluate a driver for signs of intoxication. However, many factors cause causes these tests to be inaccurate. Injuries, medical conditions, and even nerves can cause a sober person to fail these tests.
• Inaccurate BAC readings – Breath alcohol tests such as breathalyzer tests are designed to measure a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, if the test is not properly maintained, cleaned, and calibrated, it will yield an inaccurate result. Even things like using mouthwash prior to the test or belching can lead to inaccurate results.

Contact a Naperville DUI Defense Lawyer

If you or a loved one were charged with driving under the influence, contact Aurora defense attorney Patricia Magaña for help building a robust defense against the charges. Call the Law Office of Patricia Magaña, LLC at 630-448-2001 for a free, confidential consultation.

Over the last several years, there has been a growing number of serious car accidents caused by distracted driving due to texting and other handheld cell phone use. In response to this problem, Illinois and many other states have begun to implement laws restricting the use of electronic devices while driving, including for drivers of commercial motor vehicles. If you are accused of texting while driving, you could face serious consequences, including the suspension of your commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Penalties for Handheld Cell Phone Use

According to Illinois law, drivers of commercial vehicles are prohibited from texting or using a handheld mobile phone while operating their vehicles, including while the vehicle is in motion and while it is stopped in traffic or at a traffic signal. When a driver who holds a CDL is convicted of violating these laws, the violation becomes part of their driving record. If the offense constitutes a second serious traffic violation within three years, the driver can lose their CDL for up to two months. If the offense constitutes a third violation within three years, suspension of the CDL can extend up to four months. The State of Illinois can also assess fines and driver’s license points for a texting or handheld cell phone use violation, which may impact even the driver’s personal driving privileges.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also has regulations prohibiting handheld cell phone use. A driver who violates the prohibition for the first time can be fined up to $2,750, and the FMCSA will suspend a driver’s privileges for repeat offenses.

As teenagers and young adults experience the freedom of having a driver’s license, many find themselves in situations that involve drinking and driving. For individuals under the age of 21, being convicted of a DUI can lead to very serious consequences, including criminal penalties and the loss of driving privileges. If you or your child find yourself in this situation, it is important to discuss your case with a skilled DUI defense lawyer. Fluent in English and Spanish, Attorney Patricia Magaña has over 15 years of legal experience helping clients minimize or eliminate the negative consequences of a DUI charge.

Zero Tolerance Law

In the state of Illinois, individuals of all ages may be charged with a DUI. If a driver under the age of 21 is found with alcohol in his or her system, he or she is subject to lose their right to operate a motor vehicle. Upon a police stop, if the officer has reason to believe that the motorist has any trace of alcohol in their system, that officer has the right to request a chemical test. After the test is administered, the officer must submit a sworn statement to the Secretary of State’s office, which will then lead to the suspension of the motorist’s license. If the motorist refuses to submit to testing, his or her driving privileges will be suspended.

If a driver under the age of 21 has a BAC of more than .00, his or her driving privileges will face a three-month suspension for the first offense. A second offense will result in a one-year suspension of driving privileges. If the motorist refuses to take the BAC test, that individual’s first violation will result in a six-month suspension of driving privileges. A two-year suspension will be enforced for a second violation.

Trucking weight restrictions were established throughout the United States in order to preserve our roads and promote safety. Trucks and vehicles that are carrying excess amounts of weight can damage streets and highways, creating safety hazards for other motorists. In the state of Illinois, if a police officer has reason to believe that a truck is overweight, he or she can require the driver to stop the vehicle and submit to a weighing. If it is determined that your vehicle is in violation, serious financial penalties may result. If you are a CDL holder who has been cited for a weight restriction, Attorney Patricia Magaña is prepared to help. Fluent in English and Spanish, Attorney Magaña has more than 15 years of experience helping commercial drivers contest violations.

Financial Penalties for Trucking Weight Violations

In Illinois, a commercial truck driver may face weight restriction violations if:

• The gross weight of the truck exceeds the maximum specified amount
• There is too much weight on the axles

According to 625 ILCS 5/15-113, the driver of an overweight truck shall be fined based on the following schedule. If the truck is overweight by: